Nantong Economic and Technological Development Area (NETDA) was among the first group of 14 national-level economic and technological development zones in China. It was established on Dec 19, 1984 upon the approval of the central government. Situated in the southeast of the Nantong downtown area, the development zone covers a total area of 184 square kilometers and is home to 300,000 permanent residents. 

Thanks to the Suzhou-Nantong Yangtze River Bridge, the largest cable-stayed bridge in the world, and the Chongming-Qidong Bridge, an eastern coastal bridge which crosses over the Yangtze River, the development zone has become fully integrated into Shanghai's one-hour economic circle. 

In 2018 alone, a total of 65 national high-tech enterprises, three national key R&D programs, and six provincial R&D institutions were approved and 193 invention patents were granted. 

In 2019, NETDA ranked among the top 50 industrial parks and the top 25 economic and technological development zones in China. 

The development zone has spared no effort to promote economic internationalization. Many companies have globally-leading technological and production capacities. They are separated into six major industrial clusters: modern equipment manufacturing, new materials, new medicine, new energy, modern textiles, and service outsourcing. The development zone has grown into an advanced manufacturing base utilizing foreign investment in the Yangtze River Delta area as well as a key industrial base in Shanghai's one-hour economic circle.